An Economic Evaluation of a One-Day Living Kidney Donor Evaluation Process Compared to the Usual Approach

Living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) offers the best outcomes for kidney failure, yet LDKT rates have stagnated globally despite increasing demand.1 In the U.S., 90,000 individuals await kidney transplants, and 5,000 die annually.2 A major barrier to LDKT—identified by both patients and clinical guidelines—is the complexity and duration of the donor evaluation process.3 A streamlined process could improve pre-emptive transplant access, reduce dialysis requirements, and lessen the burden on potential donors.